DEVELOPMENT AND EFFECTIVENESS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES IN BULGARIA THROUGH THE LENS OF THE EUROPEAN ENERGY

Abstract

The paper examines the development and effectiveness of renewable energy sources (RES) in Bulgaria in the context of EU membership and the application of ESG policies. 
It assesses to what extent the EU institutional, regulatory and financial framework stimulates RES and translates into sustainability, efficiency and energy security. The theoretical paper combines official data and planning documents, a comparison of RES types and a four-stage periodisation. A separate section addresses the environmental, social and governance dimensions. The analysis points to a positive effect of European policies on capacity, alongside infrastructural, investment and regulatory constraints. It argues that effectiveness depends on the ability of the national system to convert European incentives into technological modernisation, grid adaptability and long-term energy security. Empirical testing is left to a subsequent publication.